California Suite (1978)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Neil Simon (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 December 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The best two-hour vacation in town!

Plot:

Misadventures of four groups of guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Actress | Tennis | Prostitute | Oscars

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Jane Fonda	...	Hannah Warren - Visitors from New York
Alan Alda	...	Bill Warren - Visitors from New York
Maggie Smith	...	Diana Barrie - Visitors from London
Michael Caine	...	Sidney Cochran - Visitors from London
Walter Matthau	...	Marvin Michaels - Visitors from Philadelphia
Elaine May	...	Millie Michaels - Visitors from Philadelphia
Herb Edelman	...	Harry Michaels - Visitors from Philadelphia (as Herbert Edelman)
Denise Galik	...	Bunny - Visitors from Philadelphia
Richard Pryor	...	Dr. Chauncey Gump - Visitors from Chicago
Bill Cosby	...	Dr. Willis Panama - Visitors from Chicago
Gloria Gifford	...	Lola Gump - Visitors from Chicago
Sheila Frazier	...	Bettina Panama - Visitors from Chicago
David Sheehan	...	David Sheehan - At the Hotel
Michael Boyle	...	Desk Clerk - At the Hotel
Len Lawson	...	Frank - At the Hotel

Also Known As:

Neil Simon's California Suite

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows - 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Rastar Films

Trivia:

Diana Barrie says that she wishes David Niven could accept her award for her because he would be witty and charming. In the play on which the movie is based, she says Michael Caine, but it was changed when Caine was cast as her husband.

Goofs:

Continuity: When we first meet Hannah, her room number at the Beverly Hills Hotel is 305. Later, when she and Bill return from a day at the beach, the room number is 306.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[a two-seater plane is flying over snow-capped mountains]
Harold: For heaven's sake, Wendy - look for an airport. Will you look for the airport?
Diana Barrie: Oh don't make such a fuss. Just put it down on a mountain.
Harold: What do you mean 'just put it down'? I'm lucky I can keep it up. I told you I never flew before.
Diana Barrie: Don't shout at me - I'm a first-class passenger.
Harold: You're a first class lunatic. It's all over Wendy - our relationship has a quarter of a tank to go.
Diana Barrie: Yes, but - you do love me, don't you Harold? I know this is an awkward time to bring it up, but I must know, for our future.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features Gilda (1946)

Plain average

Four stories, courtesy of Neil Simon, concerning the ongoings of several people staying at a nice hotel in sunny California.

Walter Matthau's segment provides the film's only real laughs. Desperately trying to cover up his infidelity, Matthau is a riot in his attempts.

Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor try their best as doctor friends who are having an awful time on their vacation with their wives. It's just not that funny, despite them both being extremely likable.

Alan Alda and Jane Fonda do well in their dramatic story of separated couple meeting after nine years to discuss their child. Their segment is too short to really have an impact, might have worked well as a feature film. It's not all that involving.

Michael Caine and Maggie Smith are both excellent in their little segment, with Smith portraying an actress who's up for the academy award. Caine plays her show off gay husband. The two stars really shine in an otherwise average story, not all that interesting.

I feel that California Suite should have been much better, it had such potential. It's just plain average.